A world drowning in food waste: how can innovations transform the field?

Every year, one fifth of the food produced for human consumption – equivalent to one billion meals a day – is lost or wasted. This loss is estimated to cost the global economy around USD 1 trillion. While hunger and poverty persist in many parts of the world, people in other countries are throwing away good-quality food, contributing to up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This reality motivates the search for innovative solutions to reduce waste, lessen the environmental burden, and give food a second chance. One platform helping to make this commitment a reality is the Baltic Sustainability Awards.

Food rescue mission

The FudLoop solution is designed to recover food from places where it is no longer needed and is destined for disposal, ensuring it reaches people who need it. The initiative is implemented in cooperation with local companies and individuals, utilizing food lockers located in various areas of Tallinn. Given the high sanitary standards in the food sector, prompt action is critical to this process.

There are only a handful of companies worldwide working to reduce food waste in this way. The solution operates thanks to a unique financing model—a monthly fee paid by customers with whom partnerships are established. The project also relies partly on donations from like-minded individuals, allowing it to grow, reduce food waste, and plan for future expansion. Negotiations with potential partners are underway, which will hopefully enable the brand to strengthen its position in the local market and expand to other parts of the Baltics within the next 3-5 years.

Platform for the exchange of ideas

Last year, we participated in the Baltic Sustainability Awards with this solution and won the top jury award in the food innovation category. This experience helped us gain visibility and establish new collaborations. The award is also a great way to raise awareness of various sustainability challenges, including the growing issue of food waste, and to promote the exchange of ideas and practical actions to tackle these issues. I believe it is worthwhile for every company to participate and proudly showcase their achievements, as innovation in any field needs to be shared widely.

Hard to change habits

Experience in the sector so far shows that an increasing number of companies, both private and public, are taking responsibility and initiating efforts to reduce food waste as part of their sustainability goals. However, changing habits and long-established routines is difficult, especially when business processes have been in place for decades. It takes time to introduce new practices or establish fresh collaborations.

Unfortunately, the amount of food being discarded is increasing daily, and current tools to address the issue are not yielding the desired results, as no significant change is yet visible. The problem is not that companies want to throw food away; rather, there is a shortage of effective and viable solutions to sell food at lower prices or distribute it quickly when customers do not buy it. One thing is clear: without innovation, we cannot make a lasting difference.